Road Trip To Indiana .... The Christmas Story Displays And Robyn!

WOW!  New year's Eve Tomorrow? Blink this time a year and you can be in a whole new year! Yikes, time flies....anyway.... During the 25 days of Merriment Robyn over at Primlish told everyone about the displays at the Indiana welcome center that pay tribute to the movie A Christmas Story... It peeked my interest right away with that being one of our "must" see movies of the season, and that we had just watched it the night before Robyn's post....

In talking with the hubby, I realized it's not that far of drive from us... About a hour if traffic is on the light side... Hubby is doing very well since surgery... Back to work Wednesday for him! (yeah, just kidding)... We decide to take a little road trip.  At first the boys were coming with us, but last minute, change of plans for them, so they said anyway.....

AND... Robyn said if we took a ride to let her know & maybe we could met up.....

So off hubby and I went this AM....

 The window displays are from the original Macy's window displays in New York in 2003....

 On the weekend's before Christmas Santa is there on the hill for visits,just like in the movie and the kids slide down the red slide.  I need to make sure my brother and SIL take the kids there next year!

So once we got there I gave Robyn a text.... She had some time before work and she invited us to come over to her WONDERFUL HOME!  I was a wee bit hesitant, only because it was last minute and I didn't want to intrude, but she twisted my arm & I am SO glad we went.  Right as we came around the corner I said to hubby, that's her home!  HEHE!  Thanks to blog land.  We had a wonderful visit and I didn't even think to take pictures of her home, but I will say the pictures never due justice, so warm and inviting!   I could of stayed all afternoon!  Even hub's love their home, for a guy that's a big deal!
So finally we need to go so she can go to work, oops... we need a picture... both us not fans of pictures being taken.....

 So hubby took a couple of shots for us.  I really need to learn to smile...

Robyn is adorable and her home is perfect! Thanks for letting us invade on such short notice!
Off to organize a wee bit...Wishing everyone a most wonderful and safe New Year's Eve and New Year! OLM

Put A Fork In It.....Surprises....and More.....

I always feel such a let down once the holiday is over... Everyone starts turning off their lights...Down come the decorations.... sigh... Though the Christmas Holiday really doesn't end until the 6th of January at the Epiphany... the arrival of the Wise Men....

I probably won't keep the tree up to then... but at least through sometime next week... All that work, I want to enjoy it a wee bit longer.. How about you?  Do you take down right away or wait?

 So here is the clam before the storm I say.... Christmas Eve... Not a creator was stirring...until the arrival of the blond hurricane as Steven called her... Joey our Goddaughter... Well, after all Auntie "RE"  has such fun things to play with....

First I want to share with you a fun little box I received from Robyn over at Primlish!  She said for my love a vintage....

 She sent me 3 adorable ornies, that I love!!!  Love this reindeer... adorable....

 Love the old bubble lights... This is actually the first year we didn't put any on our tree, since we changed over to just white lights... Love this one, OLM, might need to figure out how to make a few more?

 Then, the Christmas candy, LOVE!  Robyn had no way of knowing my mom would buy these every year at Christmas, memories, thank you soooo much Robyn, they are the perfect addition to my tree!

So I have most of my family over on Christmas Eve... Started this many, many years ago.. with some of the drama that takes place in my family, I needed to keep Christmas Day for us and my sanity...so a quiet day...enjoy our family time and we usually go to a movie, love it!  Though once the boys move out, have girlfriends/or wives, I am sure this will change....

Here I am with the blond hurricane Ms. Joey, she is telling me what she would like for Christmas.  I am telling her this is the first I am hearing of this and it's now to late to go shopping, so there are no presents... HEHE... Of course she is not buying it!

 Mr. William being his goofy self!  Every 5 minutes asking when they can open presents... I kept saying after dinner... Oh the excitement of 4 1/2!!! It's the best!

 Here they are waiting for Tyler, one of our Nephew's waiting to give them a present from Papa, my dad.. I love this picture... Wish it was in better focus...

 Joey that loved to dress up, in her ballerina outfit she got....oh the smile!

 Here is OLM with my little brother... well, just by 15 months... and ms. Joey again...

 Katie, my brother and SIL's oldest getting into the action...Hi Katie... hehe... she reads auntie's blog....

 Rosie, taking a very short break for a picture... bad Auntie, I forgot up load a picture of Tyler & Travis...They were busy starting the wrapping paper fight that happens every year... I find paper balls for months!

 Alex opening a gift from Papa...

 Steven showing me his best smile?

 Gathering around the table for some snacks... There is Mr. Travis! In red....

 Hubby showing off a t-shirt from Alex... it has gotten many laughs!!! He is doing VERY well post-surgery...

 Then.... I MUST of been a good girl!!?!?!?  I found a antique bowl rack several weeks back.. FELL IN LOVE WITH IT... Kinda spendie, well not kind a, WAS... I tried to convince the boys that I was the best mommy they have EVER had and should get this for me... I won't go into all the comments tossed my way... LOL... Truly never in a million years did I think they would get it for me... After all hubby has a heart attack at what some of these primitive's cost... and you don't see many truly "old" bowl racks... Of course they played a trick on me.... Made me think my GF Cindy got it for Christmas... She comes in on Christmas Eve all excited to show  me what she got for Christmas...She even HUNG it on her wall... I was like THAT'S MY BOWL RACK!!???--- she was like sorry... yeah right... all I could think is they BETTER BE PULLING MY LEG.....
YES, they were.....

 Here it is, oh so prim... original stain... hand made, each peg a wee bit different since they are all hand carved....

Some say I am spoiled, yes I am, but I say blessed too! 
I so hope everyone had a most wonderful Christmas too!  OLM

Merry Christmas!

From the OLM Homestead to you and your Family, Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Enjoy, be merry and hope for all to be stress free and free of any drama that always seems to happen around this time... Merry Christmas! OLM

Merriment Day 25!!! Simply....

From the OLM Homestead to yours.......

Merry Christmas everyone!!!  This has been a blast!  Thank you Misi and Robyn for hosting and to everyone that invited me into their homes these last 25 days. OLM

Merriment Day-- 24--The Stockings Are Hung

The stocking are hung....

It's coming fast now....and all are hoping for full stockings, if they were good!  HEHE!  Lucky to have these.  I have shown them before, my mom made each of us one oh so long ago... hugs!  Snow is coming they say today, soo very soon!  OLM

Merriment day 23 Christmas past.....

I am not sure what year this picture was taken.  Sorry it's a wee bit dark... But on the left is my mom as a little girl on Christmas morning holding a baby doll... her brother's and my Grandma Marie, great photo isn't it?

 

 Before my mom pasted away she asked me if I wanted her baby doll... I got it after she pasted away.. and here she sits to greet you in the front room.  My Niece Joey loves to play tea party with her when shes over at this little farm table... ( see my new Santa on the table? Merry Christmas to me!  He just came today, he is a candy dish! Love him!  I need to find a better spot for him)

Then I received some fun Merriment in the mail yesterday!  I won Kimberly's giveaway from The Red Cupboard Post.  I love her work...  I won Mr. Gingerbread man... That is one of her floppy snowmen on the left... In the screen box is a snowman made by Becky from primitives and stitchin! 

So the snow they say is coming tomorrow... YIKES!  I am excited, but need to get all my errands done early... Please dont' be made at me Ms. Cranky!  OLM

Merriment day --22!!! Baking!!!!

YIKES!  I think I am going to lose it... breath, just breath... it is what it is... I was doing so good, where did it all go wrong?  I know I will blame hubby's surgery...HEHE... I should of started my baking over the weekend...But that pain in the you know what cold/sinus infection that I have been battling on and off since Thanksgiving made a return appearance over the weekend... Thankfully I had a doctor appt. already set up for yesterday... blood work that needed to be done, SO I have able to get some antibiotic's too! 

Feel sooo much better today... but the clock is ticking fast.....

I  started some baking, I did another double batch of the chocolate covered cherry recipe I told you about back in day???  yikes, don't remember...

They are sooo yummy!

So I need to get this all boxed up and hidden so they last... The boys are already into them....   I also took the same recipe, made my dough balls a wee bit smaller, baked them for a wee bit less time, then topped them with some Andi's chocolate mints... let them melt some... swirled them around like a frosting on the cookie, oh so yummy to especially if you like mint cookies!  I didn't take a picture of them... getting late.. have dinner started and I didn't want to get side tracked tonight and forget my post... Happy baking... hmmm..what to make tomorrow? OLM

PS... I did get a small update on my selling blog last night too... if anyone is interested, jsut click on the snowmen on the right and it will take you there...

Merriment Day --21 More Vintage

WOW, it's coming fast, starting to feel overwhelmed with the last minute "stuff" I need to do...how about you?  Thanks to Misi and Robyn this has been such a fun escape!

One thing I have realize I have a disease!  LOL!  I can NOT get enough of vintage holiday stuff....

 especially if I find it on the cheap...sigh... anyway last year at a little antique shop in Genoa call the Laughing Cat, one of the dealers has been selling off her collections of vintage holiday... I visited 2 or 3 times I think last year.. She had so much fun stuff, and at great prices!  THese are a few of the goodies!

 So on one of the shelves in the cabinet in the front room I have a collection of Christmas and Halloween...  The old Mac Donald's farm game in the background has meaning because my maiden name is Mac Donald, and spelled just like that MAC, not Mc...I have only that one time found something with the correct spelling of my maiden name... what a hoot!  And this great old stocking... love!

So these goodies are out all year, to much fun to put away....  A little merriment all year long!!!OLM

Merriment Day 20... It's Coming Fast....

So let the wrapping begin... I have noticed in the last couple of years... I don't have as much to wrap anymore... No toys under the tree for the boys... Just a couple of bigger gifts now... sigh... Even still wrapping has been started... nothing to fancy.  I use to really fancy things up, but since hurting my back, wrapping isn't as easy... So this year I thought I would use homespun fabric for the ribbon.  Just simple bows..  After all the niece's and nephew's won't even notice, just ripping in... and after all that is what it's all about? hugs! OLM

Merriment day-- 19... sigh...

Like Robyn one of our hosts, I had several planned posts yet.  Sending many hugs to Misi our other host, as this was her childhood school...Though not being in such a Merriment mood, as is the rest of us.  There is just no explanation for the evil that happens in the world.  Sometimes the hardest thing to start to pull one's self up and move forward...in time...

So for today... on my tree is this Angel that use to hang above my bedroom door when I was little.

Today to simple honor all the little Angel's that got their wings early yesterday.  OLM

PS.. Thank you everyone for comments and concerns for hubby.  He is doing well, sore, but he has been up and moving some today.  It's going to be hard for him say in a week or so to remember no lifting for several weeks, especially since he's my lifter with my bad back,  All things will work out. Thank you again!

Early Works Update

I did manage to get my early works mercantile update done last night.  Between hubby's surgery and just sadness of the tragic events in CT.  I wasn't up for it.. thoughts and prayers for everyone.  Finally I just has to turn off the TV, and pick up a book.  I will be back later to do my merriment post.  Here is the link if anyone would like to peek at my latest creations.  Hugs to everyone! OLM
http://earlywork-primsbyoldeladymorgan.blogspot.com/

Merriment day --18!

I took this picture a couple of evenings ago.. Everything dark and just the little tree lite in the kitchen. 

See a couple of years ago when we were remodeling, we HAD to put our tree in the kitchen in this area.  ( Our old eating area). Everything else was still a mess.  Since then Hubby has always liked a tree there... So this year I thought I would take my slim prim  tree and tuck it there.  Wasn't sure I would like it, but I love it and the pop of light it gives at night.  I put the tree on a timer so it comes on about 3 and off about 11pm...

 So there is a mixture of hand made, vintage and reproduction ornaments...

 This vintage boot ornament I found at a estate sale this past spring... Love it...

Miss matched garland... and a Hodge podge of ornies... My off beat tree, just like me! OLM


PS... I wrote this last night, home about a hour with hubby, his surgery has gone very well.  Now he is now home and on the mend.  Thank you everyone for you kind words and prayers! OLM

Merriment Day -17

I am having so much merriment being invited into every one's home for a visit this Christmas Season!

Simply today... I can do it? Just my way...HEHE... 3 of my many favorite hand mades by other wonderful artists...

From the left... a wonderful snowman by Barb of Turkey Hollow Folk art, Santa by Alecia Maynard, and last the tattered snowman by Dru of Cinnamon Creek.  They sit on my goose neck rocking chair in the front room... Remember the one we found at the estate sale last year and was a battle to get it out of the house, into our car and home.... LOL...  I should of went back to find that post... that is a merriment laugh, that story... off to walk Knuckles.. Enjoy.. They are saying almost 50 here today, OK, really?  I am wanting a dusting of snow A LEAST!  NOTHING to set  the mood...sigh... OLM

Merriment day --16... More Vintage

I don't think I showed this... Might of been the full view on top of my pie safe... Tucked in a old wire basket... is another scene with some of my vintage boxes... and OF COURSE a few more elf's....

Simple...next year I think I am going to go even more simple...there is nothing simple about my Christmas decorating...sigh... I just don't know what I would give up and leave hidden in the tubs...sigh... Off an running I will visit everyone later... Trying to get many things done before hubby's surgery on Friday.  I will be glad when it's over and he's on the mend.. It's been hanging over our heads for a while now... He's OK, just one of those things that has to be fixed and will lay him up for a wee bit! OLM

Merriment Day 14--Vintage

I am addicted to vintage Christmas boxes and such.  It blows me away that these boxes with such wonderful graphics have stood the test of time... I am lucky that the "queen".. aka my SIL has shared many from her collection and the one's I have found while out and about...

I tuck them every where to accent my decorating... here under my tree in the kitchen... OLM